Sgt West was killed in action in Australia on July 1, 1942 at
the age of 20. The report of his death contained no details
but merely cited him as Killed in Action. Corps, 19th Bomb
Group, 93rd Squadron as a tail gunner

He enlisted in
the Texas National Guard and was assigned to the 131st Field
Artillery, 2nd Battalion, Battery E. While stationed in Java,
he transferred to the Army Air Force as a B-17 West. He
enlisted in the Army at Jefferson Barracks at the age of 18
and was sent to Brownswood, Texas where he later was sent to
Java.